The Croatian government has launched a procedure to put Serbia and Montenegro on the list of countries whose nationals do not need visas to stay in Croatia for up to 90 days, government spokesman Zlatko Mehun told Hina on Thursday.
The Croatian government has launcheda procedure to put Serbia and Montenegro on the list of countries whosenationals do not need visas to stay in Croatia for up to 90 days, governmentspokesman Zlatko Mehun told Hina on Thursday.
The nationals of the two countries already travel to Croatia without visas,but the regime has been temporary and it has been renewed every year.
Mehun told Hina that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EuropeanIntegration has launched a procedure to amend the Regulation on the Visa Systemin such a way to put Serbia and Montenegro on a list of countries whosenationals do not need a visa to enter Croatia and stay there for up to 90 days,or cross Croatia's territory".
The government made the decision after the European Union earlier this weeklifted visa requirements for Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, whose citizensdo not need a visa to enter Croatia.
Mehun said Croatia supported and welcomed the cancellation of the visaregime for the countries of the region which had met the necessary conditions,particularly the decision to make those changes effective before the Christmasand New Year's holidays.
Earlier this week, the EU decided to lift visa requirements for Serbia,Macedonia and Montenegro, and the decision will take effect on December 19. Asof that date, the nationals of those countries, but only those with biometricpassports, will be able to travel visa-free to EU countries, except for GreatBritain and Ireland.
The temporary visa-free regime for travel to Croatia for Serbian andMontenegrin nationals was introduced in June 2003 and has been regularlyrenewed since then.
